Three elephants

Genetic tests have confirmed that African savannah and forest elephants should be considered separate species.
The two animals look different and experts had previously argued that they should be classed as two species, not variations of the same one.

Results of DNA analysis support the argument that there are three species of elephant, two in Africa and one in Asia.

Most African elephants seen on safari or in zoos are the savannah type, known as Loxodonta africana, which has large ears and curving tusks.

The rarer forest or bush elephant, Loxodonta cyclotis, is smaller with rounded ears, straighter, thinner tusks and a distinct head shape.
It lives in densely forested areas of West Africa and is much less
commonly seen.

Researchers from the US and Kenya published the new findings in the journal 'Science'.